NBA Lagos 2021 Law Week: Financial Autonomy Is Not A Ruse — Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson Rtd

*Mindset, Financial Autonomy Can Create A Real Atmosphere Of
Judicial Independence — Maikyau, SAN
*Salary Of Judges Have Not Been Reviewed For Over 11 Years — AG
Ekiti, Fapohunda

The Annual Law Week of the NBA, Lagos Branch commenced on the
23rd of July, 2021 with the Theme “Disruption, Innovation and the
Bar”. The Six Session of the event featured an interesting
discussion on “Financial Autonomy of the Judiciary: Key to Judicial
Independence or Ruse?”.

The Panelist on the session were Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, Mr.
Ayo Obe, Rtd. Hon. Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson, Mr. Olawale
Fapohunda and Mr. Y.C.Maikyau.

In his contributions to the conversation, Mr. Y.C. Maikyau noted
that the judiciary can actually be independent without financial
autonomy. In his views, the Learned Silk observed that it is a
combination of the mindset and financial autonomy that would create
a real atmosphere of judicial independence.

Rtd. Hon. Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson in his own comment
noted that in a Constitutional democracy there are three powers;
the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. He observed that neither
of the powers should interfere with the exercise of powers of the
other. The Retired Justice also observed that there are two aspects
to judicial powers, one is non-interference and the counterpart is
judicial accountability and this is to ensure impartiality. He,
therefore, concluded that financial autonomy is not a ruse but is
something that we need to take seriously.

Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, the Honourable Attorney General of Ekiti
State said that judicial financial autonomy is not the same thing
as judicial independence. He stated that a lot of the debate is
around financial autonomy for the institution rather than the issue
of salaries and allowances. According to him “if you have the
state-of-the-art Courts and our judges cannot go home happy, can we
say we have judicial independence?”

The Honourable AG also expressed concern on the fact that the
salary of judges has not been reviewed for over 11 years. He,
therefore, concluded that the greater concern is not just about
financial autonomy but whether the structures will enable our
Judges fair better.

*Mindset, Financial Autonomy Can Create A Real Atmosphere Of
Judicial Independence — Maikyau, SAN
*Salary Of Judges Have Not Been Reviewed For Over 11 Years — AG
Ekiti, Fapohunda

The Annual Law Week of the NBA, Lagos Branch commenced on the
23rd of July, 2021 with the Theme “Disruption, Innovation and the
Bar”. The Six Session of the event featured an interesting
discussion on “Financial Autonomy of the Judiciary: Key to Judicial
Independence or Ruse?”.

The Panelist on the session were Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, Mr.
Ayo Obe, Rtd. Hon. Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson, Mr. Olawale
Fapohunda and Mr. Y.C.Maikyau.

In his contributions to the conversation, Mr. Y.C. Maikyau noted
that the judiciary can actually be independent without financial
autonomy. In his views, the Learned Silk observed that it is a
combination of the mindset and financial autonomy that would create
a real atmosphere of judicial independence.

Rtd. Hon. Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson in his own comment
noted that in a Constitutional democracy there are three powers;
the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. He observed that neither
of the powers should interfere with the exercise of powers of the
other. The Retired Justice also observed that there are two aspects
to judicial powers, one is non-interference and the counterpart is
judicial accountability and this is to ensure impartiality. He,
therefore, concluded that financial autonomy is not a ruse but is
something that we need to take seriously.

Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, the Honourable Attorney General of Ekiti
State said that judicial financial autonomy is not the same thing
as judicial independence. He stated that a lot of the debate is
around financial autonomy for the institution rather than the issue
of salaries and allowances. According to him “if you have the
state-of-the-art Courts and our judges cannot go home happy, can we
say we have judicial independence?”

The Honourable AG also expressed concern on the fact that the
salary of judges has not been reviewed for over 11 years. He,
therefore, concluded that the greater concern is not just about
financial autonomy but whether the structures will enable our
Judges fair better.